Wike drew battle lines with Governor Uzodinma, and vowed to oppose presidential ambitions in the Senate

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, appears to have drawn battle lines with governors under the platform of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the auspices of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).

Specifically, he has declared his intention to oppose the ambitions of PGF chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, in his bid to become Senate President.

Wike made the declaration on Monday while appearing at the TVC Journalists Hangout in Abuja, while reacting to the rejection of some APC governors to the Rainbow Coalition proposal ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The minister alleged that some APC governors’ rejection of the coalition had to do with their desire to influence the emergence of the National Assembly leader after the 2027 elections.

According to him, a number of governors are interested in producing senators and DPR members who will later support their chosen candidates to occupy leadership positions in the National Assembly.

“The APC, in the ongoing party primaries, the governors, in their own discretion, believe that they should be able to place senators or members of the House of Representatives who they will dictate to as to who will be the next President or Chairman of the Senate,” Wike said.

He specifically linked the development to Uzodinma’s ambition to become Senate President after leaving office as governor, and stressed that his rejection was based on political considerations and not personal differences.

“I will never support a character like Hope Uzodimma to become President of the Nigerian Senate. Everyone knows that,” said Wike.

The FCT Minister explained that the fear among some politicians was that the candidate rejected by the APC would seek an alternative platform, win the election and then refuse to support the preferred candidate for the leadership of the National Assembly.

“The fear now is that if they run and win, that means they won’t support him for Senate President,” he said.

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Wike stated that his support for the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is separate from the race for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Assembly seats.

He recalled that the G5 governors in 2023 supported Tinubu’s presidential ambitions while retaining their candidates for other elective positions under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“In 2023, the G5 leadership said we would support Mr President. But we never said that all our candidates in other elections would fail,” said Wike.

He added that although Tinubu won Rivers State in the presidential election, PDP candidates also won several state and legislative positions in the state.

Wike argued that Nigerian voters have demonstrated the ability to vote differently at various levels, and stressed that there is nothing strange if politicians support a presidential candidate but remain with his party in the next election.

“Who is more confused? Won’t my candidates be even more confused when I tell them to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and then they go back to supporting other candidates?” he asked.

The minister rejected claims that the Rainbow Coalition was designed to weaken the APC, and said the initiative was aimed at mobilizing support for Tinubu’s re-election.

He also rejected allegations that President Tinubu had agreed to hand over nine states to him or his coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

Wike challenged those making claims to identify the countries involved, and insisted that Nigerians should be provided with facts, not speculation.

“Which are those nine states? Tell us they said the President agreed with me that he would concede nine states,” he said.

The former Rivers State governor said his role was to promote what he described as the achievements of the Tinubu administration and mobilize support for the President based on his track record in office.

“Mr President showed us his report card. We told Nigerians what he has done and why he should be re-elected,” Wike said.

He cited issues such as the Federal Government’s support for state police and other reforms as examples of policies he would highlight while campaigning for Tinubu’s second term.

Wike’s comments come amid escalating disputes between him and some APC governors over the Rainbow Coalition, with the PGF insisting that its members will support Tinubu and APC candidates in the 2027 elections.